Who Are the Catholic Hermit's Enemies?

This morning the nothing Catholic hermit went to confession.

The other day, so filled with love, the nothing realized it has no enemies--other than those who on their own choose to be enemies. But immediately, that other morning before Mass, the Lord put a pop quiz by having a challenge: remain and possibly hear what in the past contained errancies, or to not remain.

The nothing decided to not remain but return later--only to find the pop quiz placed in front of the nothing once again. So the nothing remained, and found itself deeply recollected in loving prayer. It was not missed that the Lord determined the right thing to do was to have remained and listened.

So this morning in confession the fault was stated and situation discussed, along with the question of enemies.

The confessor smiled over the aspect of one not having enemies, but then nodded when it was explained that one does not have to have enemies except those who on their own choose to be the enemies. But this does not mean that one cannot disagree with others' beliefs or behaviors. So it seemed that in the situation yesterday, the nothing Catholic hermit was being shown quite quickly by God that although He had breathed a bit of the nothing close, He also allowed the nothing to be exhaled some so as to learn more about enemies.

Not so fast, in other words! Enemies are an on-going challenge. Enmity engenders from the root word from which it comes, and that means: not friend. Still, it seems one can not have enemies from one's own point of view, but it requires not criticizing. Or, to be on the positive: to love.

Jesus did this. He loved everyone, although He didn't agree, for example, with the Pharisees and Saducees on certain matters. He didn't agree with sin. He did not avoid sinners; He remained the Light among them. The confessor discussed several instances of Jesus' love for and being among sinners, yet not agreeing with the behavior--and how Jesus' presence helped others to shed their wrong ways, to repent and convert to good. He is merciful!

As regard the particular pop quiz, the nothing Catholic hermit was instructed to remain and listen, for it was said that Jesus' admonition to be careful what one hears, is very good; but if one has the background to discern, then it is better to remain and later discuss what is said that is not theologically correct--to ask questions, to encourage the other to clarify. So that is what the nothing is to do. And to always not do it alone: to pray and have the Holy Spirit within the soul, and both together go to the one who speaks, when and if fraternal correction is required. This takes courage and faith. Then, of course, as the Scripture relates, if the person persists, the matter must be brought to those in charge.

For the most part, it seems in our daily lives that we let matters slide. Another priest later advised the same as the confessor, but emphasized the aspect of those who have the background to assist in trying to help the other comprehend what is being said, and how it may be in error. He said sometimes ones teaching in seminaries can have views askew, or perhaps express them in an unclear way. We are all students!

So the nothing continues to ponder aspects of enemies, and that still it is possible to not consider others as "enemies". It surely comes down to motive of the heart. The nothing can have great love for others, but yet there may be some aspect or so that is not right. Much prayer goes into these situations. And much good follows. Just today we hear Jesus explaining that there is nothing hidden that it must be brought to light...and take notice of what we are hearing, the amount we measure out is what we will be given and then some.

The motive must be love. Jesus convened with sinners--even allowed the one who would hand Him over to death be among His twelve. But His love did not preclude noticing sin, noticing anger and hate--even if cozily couched in other guises. He remained just and merciful. He remained the Light, and let Himself shine. He did not give up and leave the situations for others to deal with. He prayed. He listened. He prayed. He spoke. He prayed. He acted. He prayed.

Who are Jesus' enemies? When the nothing ponders this question, it considers: those who do not love Jesus and choose on their own to be His enemies. Jesus Himself had no enemies, did He? Unless, of course, and yes, it is: sin. He was not a friend to sin.

Sin is the only valid enemy. And sin is not a person, although people can sin so much as to practically seem as if they have become sin. Is the devil, then, sin? The devil is an angel who willed to sin, to turn so far from God as to cast himself out of heaven.

Who is the Catholic hermit's enemy? The answer, then, surely must be: sin. The nothing must not consider itself or any persons to be enemies. Only sin is the enemy, and thus one must discern good from evil, that which is not sin, from sin.

And then, when these thoughts are worked out, the priest points out that Jesus did not say we would not have enemies. He said there would be those who hate us. But Jesus said to love one's enemies and pray for those who persecute. When we love, another force, the power of the Holy Spirit, indwells all. As St. Silouan reminds:

If you will pray for your enemies, peace will come to you; but when you come to love your enemies--know that a great measure of the grace of God dwells in you, though I do not say perfect grace as yet, but sufficient for salvation. Whereas if you revile your enemies, it means tthere is an evil spirit living in you and bringing evil thoughts into your heart, for, in the words of the Lord, out of the heart proceed evil thoughts or good thoughts.